March 2026

Announcing the 2026 ISS Keynote Speaker, Baja

Baja (she/ki) is the Executive Director of Resilience Hub Collaborative – a global learning and resource-sharing community that supports community-based leaders developing Resilience Hubs around the world. She is widely recognized as the originator of the Resilience Hub concept and has spent more than 14 years advancing this work across North America and internationally.

Her work is rooted in empathy, compassion, and connection, with a deep commitment to liberation, belonging, and collective care. A coach, facilitator, and systems innovator, Baja brings a whole-human, whole-species, whole-system approach to climate resilience and community well-being. She currently serves as co-Executive Director of Embodied Ecosystem (e2), where she supports an ecosystem of care grounded in regenerative and relational practices.

With a multidisciplinary background spanning biomimicry, regenerative systems, resilience and adaptation, and healing-centered practice, Baja bridges technical expertise with embodied leadership. She is a certified breathworker, Certified Floodplain Manager, and holds graduate degrees in Urban Planning and Science from the University of Michigan, as well as a Master’s in Biomimicry from Arizona State University. In recognition of her leadership at the intersection of climate and equity, Baja was named a Champion of Change by the Obama Administration in 2016.

Join us at the Intermountain Sustainability Summit (ISS) to learn from Baja’s pioneering work and vision for community-centered resilience. The ISS brings together sustainability-minded professionals, practitioners, and emerging leaders from education, business, government, and nonprofit sectors for two days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

The public is welcome to register for the ISS here, and WSU faculty, staff, and students may register through the WSU portal here.

Join WSU in Worldwide Climate & Justice Education Week

The week of March 30th will mark the seventh year of Weber State participating in the Worldwide Climate and Justice Education effort, a global initiative led by Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College in New York. This year’s approach (focused around the month of March) is similar to last year's with educational events, including climate games, geared to support learning and sharing resources about climate change and justice to thousands of people around the world. As the initiative organizers note, “We need to move from climate despair to climate repair.”

At WSU, each day of the week of March 30-April 4 will offer sessions and activities, with students taking the lead. The week’s events are as follows:

Monday, March 30: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.: Climate Issues & Solutions
10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.: WSU Climate and Sustainability Action Presentation
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.: Hands-On Climate Resilient Housing Design Challenge (Located in McKay Education Room 108 - the Fab Lab)

Tuesday, March 31: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)

12:00 - 1:15 p.m.: Film Screening - A New Climate Vision
1:30 - 2:45 p.m.: Climate Conversations
3:00 - 4:15 p.m.: Environmental Psychology: Human-Nature Relationships Along the Wasatch Front

Wednesday, April 1: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Eco-Poetry Jam and Climate Theater
1:30 - 2:00 p.m.: "In Poor Health; The Great Salt Lake and Us"

Thursday, April 2: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)

12 - 1:15 p.m.: Career Exploration Panel
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Fostering Local Climate Resilience for You and Nature - with a hands-on workshop
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.: Effects of Climate Change on Supply Chains (Located in Wattis Business Room 203)

Friday, April 3: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Climate Games!

Saturday, April 4: Located at the 21st Street Pond

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Reconnect to the River - Ogden River Clean Up, check GivePulse for updates.

The events are free and open to all WSU students, staff, and faculty as well as community members. See full schedule and event details here.

Submit your Research for the 2026 Sustainability Research Awards

Faculty and students are encouraged to submit their completed sustainability-focused research to be considered for a 2026 Sustainability Research Award. Research projects from the 2025 calendar year and the 2026 spring semester are eligible. Applications are due Monday, March 30.

Two $500 cash awards are available for student submissions and two $1,000 awards for faculty submissions in traditional or applied research.

Members of the Environmental Initiatives Committee will review the research based on the following criteria:

the link to sustainability, expansively defined;
the generation of new content or knowledge for sustainability;
the research approach, including creativity/originality; and
the impact (practical or scholarly).

For more information and links to submit your work, please visit the student or faculty award web pages.

Welcome New Staff to the SPARC Team!

SPARC is excited to welcome three new team members: Hannah, Adriana, and Mar. They will be working at the Weber State Sustainability Home (WSSH), a hands-on demonstration space where visitors can explore practical sustainability solutions for everyday life. Launching this April, the space will offer residents the opportunity to book guided tours, participate in hands-on workshops, and schedule personalized energy planning sessions.

Hannah Rogers is ecstatic to join the WSU Sustainability Team as the Energy Navigator for the WSSH. With roots in geography, climate science, and conservation, she is delighted to be advancing decarbonization in her home state of Utah. Her passion for the clean energy transition comes from a desire to support public health, community resilience and prosperity for middle and working class Utahns. With two bachelor's degrees in science and technology from the University of Utah, she has the technical expertise, institutional know-how and community awareness to make sustainability an easy, accessible and affordable reality for Utahns. In her free time, Hannah enjoys spending time with those she loves, supporting animal rescues and any crafting project that she can get her hands on.

Adriana Van Vliet serves as a Climate and Energy Student Coordinator, working closely with the community through hands-on workshops and home energy tours to help residents learn about sustainable and clean energy practices. As an energy engineering student, she brings a deep love for science, nature, and community building to her work. A long time Ogden resident, Adriana has been actively involved in the Ogden East Central community in many ways - from volunteering in habitat restoration at the Ogden Nature Center to organizing free community breakfasts. Outside of her professional and academic work, Adriana enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, exploring Ogden’s beautiful parks and trails, and trying new outdoor adventures whenever she can.

Mar Diehl also joins the team as a Climate and Energy Student Coordinator. A graduate of WSU with a degree in Energy Engineering, Mar is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering to deepen his understanding of electrical and energy systems. He brings hands-on experience from working with the Intermountain Training and Assessment Center, where he conducted energy audits for commercial and industrial facilities to help identify efficiency improvements and energy-saving opportunities. Mar also spent a summer in Arizona as a Field Engineer Intern, gaining firsthand experience in the construction and quality assurance of utility-scale solar farms. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and taking his dogs on walks. Mar is passionate about advancing climate and energy solutions and is excited to help build a more sustainable future for both present and future generations.

Wildcats Go Zero Waste

The Wildcats Go Zero Waste program has wrapped up for the semester as basketball season comes to a close. At four home games, volunteers helped educate Weber State fans about recycling and composting while encouraging waste reduction efforts. Together, we composted 4 pounds of food and recycled over 27 pounds of materials—over 1300 bottles and cans.

Several volunteers participated through the HIEE’s Pay program with Wildcat Advantage. If you’re interested in getting paid to volunteer at future Wildcats Go Zero Waste games, be sure to register for HIEE’s Pay and explore other opportunities through Wildcat Advantage.

Thanks for a great season!

Small Electronics Recycling Drive

Did you know that by recycling your old, unused cell phones you could help save gorillas in the wild? That’s right! Cell phones and other small electronics contain a mineral called coltan, which is being mined all over the world, including from the areas in Africa that gorillas call home. When we recycle our small electronic devices, we reduce the demand for coltan and the destruction of gorilla habitat.
WSU is joining forces with Utah's Hogle Zoo in the Gorillas on the Line campaign with the goal of recycling as many cell phones and small electronics as possible. Drop off your small electronics at any of the Wildcat Stores (Weber, Davis, or Downtown) from March 1st until the end of April. Students can also drop off their electronics in the Housing offices located in the University Village Community Center and in R2 at Wildcat Village.

Green Badge Program Update

Participate in the Green Badge Program and start earning your badges today!

March's green badge will help you explore
“Energy & Climate”

The Green Badge program can help you care for the planet and yourself. The program offers well-researched ways to learn about sustainability topics. One of February’s participants noted that the prerequisite video broadened their perspective:
“I never thought of sustainability as three pillars. I really just thought about it as making something that is more efficient. It was cool to see how they explained it as social, economical and environmental. It was also nice to hear that this started back in the 1800's. I thought that this idea of sustainable living was a relatively new concept.”

Does Your Department Have a Green Team?

Form a Green Team today!

The Green Department Program is for faculty and staff to learn ways to make their departments or offices more sustainable. Green Teams work together to earn points and recognition by implementing change and taking actions outlined in a Green Team checklist.

Updates: We are excited to announce a new green team— Mechanical Engineering in the College of EAST!

V4.0 has been postponed until department and office changes settle down.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

17th Annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit, Main Day
Shepherd Union 3rd and 4th floors
Thursday, March 19
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Learn More

17th Annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit Workshops
Shepherd Union, and Stewart Library
Friday, March 20
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Learn More

Environment Ambassadors Club Meeting: March Green Badge
Student Services Center
Tuesday, March 24
11: 50 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Learn more

Earth Science and Society Seminar Series: Wasatch Fault seismic hazards
Tracy Hall, Room 426
Friday, March 27
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Learn more

Worldwide Climate and Education Week Events

Monday, March 30: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)
9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.: Climate Issues & Solutions
10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.: WSU Climate and Sustainability Action Presentation
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.: Hands-On Climate Resilient Housing Design Challenge (Located in McKay Education Room 108 - the Fab Lab)
Tuesday, March 31: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)
12:00 - 1:15 p.m.: Film Screening - A New Climate Vision
1:30 - 2:45 p.m.: Climate Conversations
3:00 - 4:15 p.m.: Environmental Psychology: Human-Nature Relationships Along the Wasatch Front
Wednesday, April 1: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)
1:30 - 2:00 p.m.: "In Poor Health; The Great Salt Lake and Us"
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Eco-Poetry Jam and Climate Theater
Thursday, April 2: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)
12 - 1:15 p.m.: Career Exploration Panel
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Fostering Local Climate Resilience for You and Nature - with a hands-on workshop
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.: Effects of Climate Change on Supply Chains (Located in Wattis Business Room 203)
Friday, April 3: Located in Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Climate Games
Saturday, April 4: Located at the 21st Street Pond
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Reconnect to the River - Ogden River Clean Up, check GivePulse for updates